Highlights from the 2025 Legislative Conference
The recently held 2025 Legislative Conference marked the second session for House District 16, which encompasses the entirety of Fayette, North Tuscaloosa, and parts of West Jefferson County.
After securing my seat in a competitive special election back in 2024, my daily focus has centered on one main goal—to enhance employment opportunities, boost local job quality, and ultimately improve the life for the over 48,000 residents in my district in Western Alabama.
Every action I take aims to create higher-paying jobs, ensure safer roads and bridges, and provide quality educational resources that every child deserves.
Every vote I cast in Montgomery reflects these commitments. During the regular legislative session of 2025, we successfully passed conservative and practical policies that positively impacted House District 16 and Alabama as a whole.
Looking back at the 2026 presidential election, it yielded favorable outcomes for Americans, while Alabama continues its vigorous efforts to ensure election integrity.
It was a privilege when Secretary of State Wes Allen invited me to sponsor House Building 479.
Until 2023, Alabama utilized the Eric System for identifying voters changing addresses during elections to keep voting rolls accurate. While the system’s intention is good, there are concerns regarding its administration and operation.
The voter rolls contain sensitive personal information that state officials must protect. Yet, when Secretary Allen posed a straightforward question about where this data was stored and who had access, he received no answer.
In a subsequent visit to Eric’s headquarters in Washington, DC, he discovered that the listed site was merely a virtual workspace, with no actual physical office existing at that location.
After this revelation, Alabama withdrew from the Eric System, and my law, which Governor Kay Ivey signed, aims to ensure clean election practices by preventing unauthorized re-registration.
Another significant initiative this session, facilitated by the Alabama Farmers Federation, aimed at creating affordable healthcare options for farmers and others in the agricultural sector.
By streamlining access to quality healthcare at reasonable costs, we aim to keep this vital industry thriving and uphold Alabama’s agricultural traditions for generations to come.
The Alabama Farmers Federation has assured that individuals enrolled in the healthcare program will receive coverage, and an amendment was added to the bill to protect those with existing conditions, such as cancer or pregnancy, ensuring they can’t be excluded from care.
I believe my amendment has made the legislation stronger and more beneficial for Alabama farmers, the very individuals it was designed to help.
On the final day of the session, a Democrat-led filibuster disrupted proceedings for nearly 12 hours, beginning when one of my local bills affecting Fayette County was introduced. Although the filibuster was unrelated to my legislation, the delay unfortunately hindered many crucial local bills.
I managed to position the Fayette County law as the first and second items on the Senate calendar to ensure their passage despite the turmoil.
Although HB511 and HB512 won’t have statewide consequences, their importance to the revenue commissioners and sheriffs in Fayette County is undeniable. Local bills may not attract much attention, but they are essential for the communities we represent—this underscores the need for dedicated representatives in Montgomery.
As we move forward from the 2026 Legislative Conference, my commitment remains unwavering. I’m focused on representing the values and needs of those I was elected to serve.
My priorities encompass strengthening election integrity, supporting agriculture, and enhancing local government, all driven by practical and principled policies aimed at fostering community growth.
